Baby Ferrari 458 With Turbo V6 Under Consideration
Rumors of a turbocharged Ferrari 458 successor are already spreading, but how about a smaller twin-turbo V6 variant?
The Italian automaker is considering a smaller, slightly more affordable model based on the 458 that would have a shortened wheelbase and be powered by a twin-turbo V6. The idea would be to cater to two different segments with closely related models, similar to what McLaren is doing with its upcoming P13. Overall, expect such a model to be leaner and slimmer than the 458 that could even make a compelling case to bring back a manual transmission to Ferrari’s lineup.
SEE ALSO: Ferrari 458 Turbo Details Surface
Similar to earlier reports of the Ferrari 458 considering a turbocharged powerplant, expect the V6 to displace 2.9 liters in order to take advantage of tax benefits in China. Considering Audi recently churned out 525 hp from a 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine, don’t be surprised to see Ferrari produce at least 500 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque with a twin-turbo V6.
GALLERY: Ferrari 458 Speciale
[Source: Automobile]
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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They said: only V8 and V12, there's no place for V6 :)
Enzo Ferrari disliked V6's for good reasons: balance shafts, split crank pins, and high center of gravity for starters Ferrari would have a more promising future developing a flat-6 instead of a V6.